West LRT Lewis Estates to Downtown Concept Plan March 2011 We’re moving forward. Learn more. On January 19, 2011, City Council approved contributed to develop the plan the West LRT Concept Plan, with a modification that defines: to use Meadowlark Road north of 87 Avenue. • where the LRT tracks will fit within Consequently, the LRT will run on 87 Avenue, the route; turn left on Meadowlark Road and continue north on 156 Street, as it was presented in 2009. • where LRT stops will be located; Throughout 2010, approximately 1,200 • how access will be provided to Edmontonians provided their input and communities and businesses. Highlights www.edmonton.ca/LRTprojects • Travel time from Lewis Estates to downtown in 25 – 28 minutes; • Over 50,000 future daily boardings; • Service to West Edmonton Mall, Misericordia Hospital, Meadowlark Mall, Jasper Place Transit Centre, Jasper Gates, Oliver Square and Grant MacEwan City Centre Campus; • A new LRT line that would connect with the future Southeast LRT line and provide opportunities for transfers to the existing LRT system in the downtown core. No funding is currently in place to construct the West LRT line. LRT Network Plan In June 2009, City Council adopted a long-term LRT Network Plan that defines the future size, scale, and operation of the regional LRT system. Eventually, the LRT network will have six lines extending to the Northwest, Northeast, East, Southeast, South, and West. The LRT Network Plan supports overarching policy direction by making downtown Edmonton the focal point of the LRT system. In reviewing the overall system operation, it was determined future expansions would need to operate on a separate LRT line due to limited tunnel capacity on the existing system. As part of the LRT Network Plan, a vehicle technology review was completed to help choose the style of LRT vehicles most appropriate to meet long-term transportation objectives. The review recommended new, low-floor LRT vehicles be used for new lines that do not connect to the existing line. The West LRT will be part of the new low- floor LRT system that will connect with the other future low-floor LRT lines such as the Downtown Connector and the Southeast LRT line. West LRT Lewis Estates to Downtown: Concept Plan Concept Downtown: to Estates LRT Lewis West 2 Low-Floor LRT Amsterdam Low-floor LRT vehicles were first introduced in the late 1980s and have since evolved to become the industry standard for new LRT systems in Europe and North America. Most of the mechanical equipment on a low-floor LRT vehicle is located on the roof which means doors can be provided at street-level for step- free boarding onto the vehicle. A great advantage of a low-floor LRT system is that the stops can be small and require minimal infrastructure – a stop can be as simple as a raised curb and sidewalk. This makes it easier to integrate stops into their local surroundings with a more urban feel. Minneapolis Since ramps and steps are not needed, low- floor LRT stops also provide better pedestrian connections and fewer barriers to people with mobility difficulties. Phoenix Plan Concept Downtown: to Estates LRT Lewis West 3 West LRT — Lewis Estates N SUDER GREENS Potential Park NEIGHBOURHOOD & Ride Site Expansion Future Anthony Henday Drive Ramp Existing Lewis Estates Transit Centre Proposed Lewis Estates Station 87 Avenue POTTER GREENS NEIGHBOURHOOD Park & Ride Site TUC Boundary Proposed: LRT at Grade Elevated LRT LRT Below Grade Station Platform Roadworks Sidewalks Potential Property Requirements West LRT Lewis Estates to Downtown: Concept Plan Concept Downtown: to Estates LRT Lewis West 4 The West LRT will start at the Lewis Estates Key Features transit centre and park & ride, which is located • Service to developing West Edmonton southwest of 87 Avenue and Anthony Henday neighbourhoods Drive. The LRT station will be integrated with the transit centre and park & ride facility. • Integrated with Lewis Estates Located on the south side of 87 Avenue, the LRT Transit Centre and Park & Ride will continue east across the Anthony Henday, • Bridge over Anthony Henday Drive crossing the ramps at grade, but staying above the ring road on a new bridge. The long-term expansion for the 87 Avenue interchange was considered in the planning process. West LRT — Anthony Henday Drive N BELMEAD NEIGHBOURHOOD Future Anthony Street 189 Henday Drive Ramp 87 Avenue ALDERGROVE NEIGHBOURHOOD TUC Boundary Proposed: LRT at Grade Elevated LRT LRT Below Grade Station Platform Roadworks Sidewalks Potential Property Requirements West LRT Lewis Estates to Downtown: Concept Plan Concept Downtown: to Estates LRT Lewis West Anthony Henday Drive is the provincial ring The LRT is planned for the south-side of the Key Features 5 road and a key goods movement corridor. Long- existing 87 Avenue roadway bridge that crosses • Bridge over Anthony Henday Drive term plans for the 87 Avenue/Anthony Henday over the Anthony Henday. The LRT will need to Drive interchange include a ‘basket-weave’ cross the Anthony Henday approach ramps at • Coordination with long-term plans for configuration that would ultimately connect street level, which will require integration with 87 Avenue interchange with interchanges at Whitemud Drive and existing and planned traffic signals that will Stony Plain Road. be required as both the 87 Avenue/Anthony Henday interchange and LRT. This work has been considered and initiated as part of the LRT planning process. West LRT — Aldergrove / Belmead N BELMEAD NEIGHBOURHOOD 89 Avenue 182 Street 182 178 Street 178 87 Avenue Proposed 182 Street/ 87 Avenue Station ALDERGROVE NEIGHBOURHOOD 86 Avenue Proposed: LRT at Grade Elevated LRT LRT Below Grade Station Platform Roadworks Sidewalks Potential Property Requirements West LRT Lewis Estates to Downtown: Concept Plan Concept Downtown: to Estates LRT Lewis West 6 The LRT will continue on the south side of Key Features 87 Avenue at street-level. An LRT station will • Service to residential neighbourhoods be located just west of 182 Street to serve the • Minimized property impacts nearby residential neighbourhood. Intersections at 189 Street and 178 Street will provide access into nearby neighbourhoods and major commuter routes and goods corridors. West LRT — West Edmonton Mall N 178 Street 178 West Edmonton Mall Existing West Edmonton Mall Transit Centre Proposed 87 Avenue West Edmonton Mall Station THORNCLIFF NEIGHBOURHOOD 175 Street 175 85 Avenue 170 Street 170 Proposed: LRT at Grade Elevated LRT LRT Below Grade Station Platform Roadworks Sidewalks Potential Property Requirements West LRT Lewis Estates to Downtown: Concept Plan Concept Downtown: to Estates LRT Lewis West The LRT will cross 178 Street at street-level on connection to the Mall and the transit centre. As Key Features 7 the southside of 87 Avenue, and begin to climb the LRT leaves the LRT station and continues • Integration with major destination up on a structure over 87 Avenue roadway lanes. east, it will continue on the structure on the and transit centre An elevated West Edmonton Mall LRT Station north side of 87 Avenue, over the 170 Street • Bridge over 170 Street will be located on the north side of 87 Avenue, intersection. There will be no changes to in approximately the same location as the intersections between 178 Street and 170 Street. • Minimal access impacts existing West Edmonton Mall transit centre. This station will allow the LRT to provide a West LRT — Misericordia N WEST MEADOWLARK PARK MEADOWLARK PARK NEIGHBOURHOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD 163 Street 163 165 Street Misericordia Hospital 87 Avenue Proposed Misericordia Station ELMWOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD 169 Street 170 Street 170 Proposed: LRT at Grade Elevated LRT LRT Below Grade Station Platform Roadworks Sidewalks Potential Property Requirements West LRT Lewis Estates to Downtown: Concept Plan Concept Downtown: to Estates LRT Lewis West 8 The LRT will cross over 170 Street on the north The LRT descends back to ground level just Key Features side of 87 Avenue, and continue on the elevated west of 164 Street, and will continue east in • Service to major healthcare facility structure to the Misericordia Hospital station. the centre of 87 Avenue. A traffic signal at The main vehicle access to the hospital will be the 163 Street intersection will provide access • Bridge over 170 Street relocated to the 169 Street intersection, and a to the neighbourhoods north of 87 Avenue. new all directional traffic signal will be added. Service roads along 87 Avenue are removed to The existing hospital vehicle access may be maintain two lanes of traffic in each direction maintained; however only right-in, right-out without property acquisition. On-street parking turns will be provided. is provided in specific locations where it can be accommodated. The posted speed limit will be reduced to 50 kilometers per hour as part of this change. West LRT — Meadowlark N 160 Street MEADOWLARK PARK JASPER PARK NEIGHBOURHOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD 156 Street Meadowlark Road Proposed Meadowlark Station Meadowlark Mall 89 Avenue Existing Meadowlark Transit Centre 163 Street 163 87 Avenue Proposed: LRT at Grade Elevated LRT LRT Below Grade Station Platform Roadworks Sidewalks Potential Property Requirements West LRT Lewis Estates to Downtown: Concept Plan Concept Downtown: to Estates LRT Lewis West The LRT continues in the centre of the roadway The LRT will turn north on Meadowlark Road Key Features 9 along 87 Avenue to Meadowlark Road. Service and run on the east side of the road with a new • Connection to Meadowlark Mall roads along 87 Avenue are removed to maintain station located on the west side of Meadowlark two lanes of traffic in each direction without Mall. The service road along Meadowlark Road • Property impacts minimized by removing property acquisition. On-street parking is will be removed to accommodate LRT and on- service roads provided in specific locations where it can be street parking.